Artak Galstyan Beaten by 7-8 Individuals at the Investigative Committee: Lawyer

The co-chair of the 'Public Voice' party, Artak Galstyan, who is in custody accused of extortion, has reportedly been tortured. This was stated by human rights defender and co-founder of the 'Legal Path' NGO, Ruben Melikyan, on his Facebook page.

“I have received information from lawyer Arsen Mkrtchyan regarding the torture of detained accused Artak Galstyan at the RA Investigative Committee in recent days. The information provided by the lawyer is credible, both in terms of specificity and the presence of circumstantial evidence, as well as the reliability of the source. The prohibition of torture is absolute, and the violation of this prohibition is fundamentally incompatible with the idea of democracy itself. Thus, credible information about such phenomena must receive appropriate attention—either be substantiated or denied, and, if confirmed, punished, so that impunity does not lead to the spread of this inhumane phenomenon. In order for the 'smell of blood' not to become ordinary within law enforcement bodies. The next victim of unpunished torture could be any of us, including you,” he wrote.

In a conversation with Tert.am, lawyer Arsen Mkrtchyan stated that Artak Galstyan was beaten at the Investigative Department of Yerevan. “They beat him with 7-8 people, applying physical force, blows, and torture with devices. He was effectively placed in a helpless situation orchestrated by officials, and I have personally seen the consequences. There are swellings and bruises visible around the eyes and on the body. His condition is clearly severe,” said the lawyer.

Galstyan’s defense attorney reported that the incident occurred yesterday between 22:13 and 23:54, after the interrogation. Mkrtchyan found it difficult to assess his client's condition but noted, “I cannot say how severe it is, but from the look of the detention center's doctor, it was clear that he had serious injuries.” The lawyer also mentioned that the incident did not start with a verbal altercation. “They just beat him. Artak Galstyan behaves very respectfully when interacting with investigators and law enforcement officers, trying to avoid trouble because he knows he could be tortured,” he added.

Former MP Naira Zohrabyan also responded to Ruben Melikyan’s post, stating, “I have also received information regarding the torture of Artak Galstyan at the Investigative Committee, including the periodic use of electric shocks.”